Prime Time Funk just completed its eighth RMHF awards ceremony
Rochester, NY – Rochester’s premier horn band Prime Time Funk (PTF) will celebrate its 23rd anniversary on Saturday, May 11 at 8 PM at Lovin’ Cup Bistro & Brews (300 Park Point Drive, 14623). Head to the Roots with Anthony Siciliano will open the show; admission is $15 at the door.
Just one week ago, PTF acted as house band for the eighth annual Rochester Music Hall of Fame awards ceremony in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, backing up inductees Jack Allocco (11-time Emmy Award-wining arranger, composer and producer) with singer/songwriter/musician Gary Wright, Al Jardine (founding member of the Beach Boys), and Orleans’ guitarist John Hall’s tribute to Jeff Springut, Rochester music promoter and owner of legendary music venue Red Creek.
Since RMHF’s first induction show in 2012, PTF has played with a mind-boggling assortment of artists* including most of last year’s inductees: percussionist, composer, and teacher John Beck; Rochester’s sacred steel masters The Campbell Brothers; superstar drummer Steve Gadd; world-renowned bassist Tony Levin; and Rochester music man Ferdinand Jay Smith III.
*Previous RMHF inductees and guest artists with whom PTF has played: pianist Paul Shaffer; vibraphonist Joe Locke; Blood, Sweat & Tears singer David Clayton Thomas; Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish of The Rascals; Kathy Sledge (Sister Sledge); drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, etc.); singer/songwriter Bat McGrath; Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath; guitarist Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman–Turner Overdrive); guitarist Pat Travers; James Brown musicians Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, and Christian McBride; The Cowsills; and singers Florence LaRue (Fifth Dimension), Russell Thompkins, Jr. (The Stylistics) and Reggie Torian (The Impressions).
More about Prime Time Funk: Formed in 1996, PTF is a 10-piece powerhouse of passionate musicians from Western NY who write, arrange and perform a world-class combination of funk, jazz, and R&B that’s hard to categorize but easy to feel. Along with co-founder/sax-player James Richmond, the band includes vocalist Ronnie Leigh, drummer David Cohen, saxophonist Vince Ercolamento, guitarist Joe Chiappone, Andy Calabrese on keyboards, bass player Ron France, Mike Edwards on baritone sax, and trumpeters Ron D’Angelo and Derrick Lipp. In its 23 years, PTF has performed with some of the world’s most respected acts at regional, national and international venues. PTF’s debut CD, Ready and Willing, was co-produced by Grammy® Award-winning producer and RPO Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik. Its self-produced follow-up CD, Hear and Now, is a tribute to the band’s co-founder and original bass player, Ralph Ortiz. PTF is the official house band of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame annual awards ceremonies at Eastman Theatre. Find out more at www.primetimefunk.com.
Media please note: High-resolution photos of the band are available at primetimefunk.com/press, and interviews and photo/footage opportunities can be arranged.